To think that TA's shouldn't smoke in view of children in their class?

[donkeyderby]

DH went on a school trip and one of the TA's lit up a fag near the kids - not right next door, but close enough for them to see. What would you do?

Growing up I had several teachers that I saw smoking. And this was smoking in the playground while supervising break time. It never made me want to smoke. I didn't die of shock. My eyes did not fall out.

I only started smoking at uni, mainly due to getting into a habit of smoking when drunk. Currently a non-smoker again.

YABU

I am sure it would be a disciplinary offence TBh at most schools.

A parent helper would be differenct as not employed by school or cotracted to follow school rles. But even then I would suspect they may not be asked back to help again if they were smoking in front of children in their care.

And it is VERY different to a parent smoking in front of their children.

As a TA (or when I was a teacher) I would not be permitted to do this. As I said before (I think) I have never known of any TA or teacher to do this on a school trip where primary children are involved.

I am assuming this is primary. Secondayr may be different once at a certain age.

But the TA should have been well out of sight.

And also I'm really fed up with demonization of smokers.

We could argue that eating burgers, with processed bun, fatty red meat, bacon and fake cheese full of additives etc etc is not good for anyone's health either as it can lead to diabetes, heart disease and cancer. Neverthless, would you be so outraged if TA was having one on a school trip ie was giving bad example to the kids? Would you call the Head to complain? No? Why not?

I wouldn't be very happy about it tbh, but wouldn't say anything.

Its not a good example to set, but is just one of those things that kids get exposed to.

winnybella - but I don't suffer as a result of someone eating unhealthy food near to me. However if someone smokes near to me I can breathe in their exhaled smoke - this can be damaging to MY health, that is, IMO, why it is very different.

Hulababy-but I thought OP said that TA moved away from the children? Then it was not damaging to their health, was it?

YANBU, I wouldn't like it either.

I think it's very unprofessional.

I get the impressed the TA was away from the kids- if I was her I'd run off for a 'toilet break'

Yabu though- alot of people kids like smoke - cheryl cole,the Saturdays, the beckhams..Wayne rooney..

It's not worth bringing up at all

Well, it depends on how close I guess she was as to the health issue.

But even so - with primary age children I do not think it is appropriate for her to be in sight of the children at all. If the TA was so desperate and couldn't last without one then the TA should have ensured they were out of sight - yes, a toilet run could possibly be a way to make sure.

"Yabu though- alot of people kids like smoke - cheryl cole,the Saturdays, the beckhams..Wayne rooney.."

Is this relevant though? presumably whilst they are smoking they are not working in a school environment with primary school children.

I´m a TA, I go on school trips and we don´t really get breaks even though we are still working. Just because we aren´t on the school site, doesn´t make it a holiday. Often we are also the only ones running round after the kids while the teachers sit round yapping! lol. While I agree it isn´t ideal, it´s not really fair to expect us to give up our lunch and not smoke all day for no extra pay on the wages we get.

Ideally they should have gone somewhere else, but we don´t know the ins and outs, and to suggest they get fired is totally OTT!

YABU

What would I do = nothing.

I would be suprised if it happened because I would have assumed it was 'against the school rules', but I wouldn't be bothered, kids see people smoking all the time.

I remember the days when if you knocked on the staffroom door to see a teacher at break you could not see inside the room for the clouds of somke.

I think YABU - it wasn't on school premises, and the TA was giving up her lunchbreak on teh trip for probably no extra money (not that TAS get paid much anyway).

Your

I would do aboslutely nothing.

This wasn't a male TA who had a sneaky fag while reading a copy of The Sun and making unwelcome comments about SAHMs was it?

yabu
if it had been in the classroom I would complain, but not out and about when they were probably on a break.

I would not "do" anything, but I do think it's unprofessional to smoke in front of DCs. I work in the NHS, and staff who smoke are not allowed to do so in view of our patients (cue much hiding round the bike sheds).

At my DCs nursery, the staff must have been instructed to smoke out of sight of the children, as they all go into the next street - we see a lot of them because we live on it .

Well, from the replies, it is either nothing worth bothering about, or totally unprofessional! I think the latter.

Smoking in front of children seems really unprofessional and harking back to the 70's where staff rooms were full of smoke seems irrelevent. I might add that no break was missed (it was a short school trip), and it was a special school. The fact that it was special school is immaterial IMO. Also, if smoking is banned anywhere on the school premesis, what is the logic of allowing smoking when on school trips? Surely it's about the smoking, not the site.

I am not going to report it to anyone as relations with the school are...complicated but improving and it's not the right time. I will say something directly to the staff member if I see them do it (it was DH who witnessed it)

I believe that all state schools have to have a "Smoking Policy" - the schools in my school's pyramid certainly do and it is a reprimandable offence for a member of staff to be seen smoking by a student during school hours.

We have a "sex" policy and a "drugs" policy and I can't wait for the "rock'n roll" policy to come out.

YABU.

Smoking is something grown-ups do. Like eating Brie sandwiches or a pot of olives.

Concentrate your efforts upon your child rather than imagining some drama involving someone's habit.

although I still think yabu, could you not just speak to the head and ask them to speak to the staff, rather than reporting the staff member.

Report them and get them sacked. OP, YABU I say that as a smoker and a mother and an occasional TA. As long as the individual wasnt blowing smoke into the faces of the children what does it matter. Smokers are seen everywhere, less on the television but you can see ordinary people in the street doing ordinary things. I doubt your child will be asking for 20 b&H for christmas.

lol@ "20 B&H for christmas"!